Chapter Text
Four days.
It had been four days since the incident on the roof, and for every one of them Hana had been acting weirdly, absent her usual goofy, playful cheer and seeming more serious, perhaps lost in thought. Every day she had some excuse to not hang out with the others after school or even eat lunch with them.
This just felt wrong, and everyone knew it. So they'd decided to do something about it.
* * *
L'Avenir Academy Courtyard, Lunchtime
Ruru munched on a french fry with her typical blank expression. "I assume you two have called me here to report on Hana's home activities?"
Homare kicked back a bit, trying to look more relaxed than she felt. "Yeah. Anything out of the ordinary?"
Saaya leaned forward a bit, eyes full of concern. "Anything at all, Ruru...tell us."
The android was briefly quiet as she accessed some part of her internal memory, pupils rapidly blinking red as she did so. "...I have noted a loss of appetite, decrease in overall energy levels, a lowered speaking volume, and an increase in the frequency of headaches. Analysis has indicated that ninety percent are hypertension headaches, with a non-zero number being caused by teeth grinding-slash-clenching in the night."
Both Saaya and Homare were quite surprised. "Hypertension...? What's Hana got to be tense about?" Homare glanced at Saaya. "Is she still upset about...?"
"No, it couldn't be...she said...she said she was recovered from that..."
Ruru stuffed a few more fries into her face, oblivious to their conversation. "My hypothesis is that something has happened to Hana that she does not wish to speak of, but the occurrence is serious enough to be causing her emotional or psychological pain that she cannot hide due to being a poor liar."
Homare's brow crinkled into a frown, and her cowlick formed a question mark. "Something happened to Hana...? For it to be affecting her this much, it has to be really bad."
"That is my hypothesis as well." Ruru continued to blankly stuff fries in her face.
"R-Ruru, can you quit eating for a second...? This is serious." Saaya frowned. "...Where did you get those, anyway...?"
"Emiru delivered them to me."
"I see..." Saaya rubbed her chin. "...Ah, maybe we could throw a little party for her! To help her feel at ease, you know?"
"Ah, yeah!" Homare snapped her fingers. "That's it! Let's try our best to make her feel safe and happy! Maybe that'll help her feel like talking!"
"Mm, mm~ Ruru, can you call Hana's parents?"
The android gulped down her last handful of fries, smiled, and nodded. "Of course. I will do so right away."
* * *
Criasu Corp., Traum's Office
Bishin's long, pointed nails dug into his knees, turning his knuckles white with impatience. "Doctor, how long are you going to keep me waiting? I want to get out there and see my darling Harry again...and split the skulls of his pretty friends~"
"Patience, patience, young man. I'm simply making a few last adjustments to the device~" Traum pulled his welding goggles back on, sparks flying as he finished up the last few seams.
Bishin quirked an eyebrow. "Another device? Doctor, the last one..."
"A minor setback, I promise you. This device will be far greater, and not break so easily. Ah, done~" Traum removed his goggles and picked up the device before coming over to where Bishin waited and handing it to him. The device resembled a small bat with a large elliptical ruby embedded into the torso and fit into the palm of Bishin's hand with ease.
Bishin turned the device over several times, getting visibly more puzzled by the second, until he finally gave up and turned to Traum. "Doctor, what the hell is this supposed to be?"
"Ah, I'm glad you asked~ This is a portable mind control device designed specially to take advantage of a Precure's momentary emotional weakness~ It collects toge-power from the surrounding area, and once the eyes begin to blink you can find a Precure with a troubled heart and...boop~" Traum poked Bishin in the forehead, causing the latter to snarl. "Apply it to her forehead and let it do the work~"
Bishin looked at the device with newfound respect, a psychotic grin splitting his face. "Is that so...? Well, I know exactly who I'd love to use this on..."
* * *
Hagukumi, Valentine Street, Evening
Alone with her thoughts once again, Hana slowly walked down the sidewalk, examining the states of each house's lawns and gardens. Dull as hell, to be sure, but it kept her mind busy, and busy was what she needed right now. She didn't want to think. Every time she thought, that came back to haunt her, playing her worst fears ad nauseam in her mind until she forced herself to stop thinking about them. It's not a big deal, she kept telling herself. Just tell them. It'll be fine. But no matter what, she couldn't make herself do it. It was like stage fright, as soon as the lights were on her she'd just shut down. She couldn't just say it, what if...ah, that phrase again. What if. It echoed in her head endlessly, the dark whisper behind every attempt to think positively.
Thankfully, the chime of her cell phone came and cut into her dark thoughts, shocking her back to reality. She stopped walking and fished it out of her pocket, waiting for a long moment before answering. "Hello?"
Her mother's voice came through the speaker, already making her feel more at ease. "Hana, honey, how are you~? Listen, Harry-san needs some help at the shop. He's preparing for some big sale, or something."
Hana allowed herself a small, if somewhat sad smile. "Mm, I can come help. Are you and papa already there?"
"M'hm, and even Kotori's helping out."
"Kotori...heh, well, now I definitely have to help. I can't let her beat me~"
"That's the spirit. See you soon, honey~" With that, Sumire hung up the phone.
Hana took a deep breath, feeling a little rush of rejuvenation. Mama's voice is always so soothing...it gives me strength. "Whew...all right, I guess I'd better run." Hana secured her backpack and broke out into a light run towards Beauty Harry, enjoying the rush of adrenaline and her elevated heart rate. For fun, she jumped over everything she could...at least until she nearly caught her skirt on a chain-link fence and barely escaped eating dirt by tucking and rolling. Now that Beauty Harry was in sight, she slowed her pace and walked up the path normally, a smile fixed on her face. "...That felt good..."
As she approached, she saw a few silhouettes moving around inside. Ah, must be mama and Kotori. She trudged slowly up the wooden steps, giggling a bit as the top one creaked like it always did. She gripped the knob, turned it, and opened the door...
And was greeted by several party poppers going off in her face, showering her with streamers and confetti. She flinched back on reflex, only to blink in surprise and clear the streamers from her eyes as a round of applause broke out. Her eyes swept over the assembled party...her mom, her dad, her sister...all her friends, plus Hugtan...she swallowed a lump in her throat that she didn't know was there and opened her mouth to ask...
"Why...?"
Sumire chuckled. "Your friends told us they were concerned about you and wanted to throw you a little party. We were all too happy to oblige~"
"Yeah, that's right, sis~ You're a lot more fun when you're being a big dummy, not when you're acting all serious and somber."
"K-Kotori...! I am not a big dummy..." Hana's cheeks puffed out to comical proportions. "Hapupu..."
Homare flashed Hana a cool smile. "We're just looking out for you. You can leave whenever you want...don't feel like you have to stay."
"That's right, I say! This is about your comfort, Hana-senpai!"
Ruru nodded. "This celebration is designed to maximize your feelings of relaxation and happiness."
Hana's smile returned. "Everyone...thank you so much."
* * *
Beauty Harry, Dusk
"Puahhh~!: Hana loudly plopped her bowl down on the table. "Barbecue is soooo good~! I didn't know Beauty Harry had a kitchen capable of this!"
Harry dramatically flipped his bangs. "Heh, surprised~? I had it installed just recently since Ruru's always hungry."
"Harry, I would advise you refrain from saying foolish things before I toss you again." Even as she said this, Ruru was shoveling down her sixth bowl of barbecue.
"But--okay, yeah, fine."
"Emiru-chan, would you like some more chicken?" Kotori put some in a bowl and offered it to her.
"N-No thank you, I say! E-Even if it is delicious, a proper lady must save room for dessert!"
Saaya giggled. "Emiru-chan, we don't have any dessert."
"M-Mechokku, I say!" Emiru dramatically thunked her head against the table, eliciting an amused chuckle from everyone present.
Hana's smile hadn't faded since she arrived, and it didn't fade now as she looked over her assembled friends and family. ...That's right...I'm... She picked up a spoon and rapped it on the side of her glass as she stood up, causing everyone present to turn and focus on her. "...Everyone...I just want to say thank you for cheering me up. This was really nice of you...I'm glad that you're all so worried about me." Hana put a hand on her chest, and took a deep breath to still her nerves. "...And...I have something else I want to tell you all, too."
"Go ahead, then, Hana." Shintarou leaned forward a bit and gave her a reassuring smile.
Hana nodded. "Mm, thank you, papa." She turned back to face everyone else. "Everyone...I'm--"
What if they don't approve?
Hana's smile broke immediately, and she flinched back slightly as if she'd been electrocuted. No...no, of course they wi--
What if they're disappointed in you? Could you handle that?
Hana clasped her hands to her chest and took a half-step back, pupils constricting as her breathing picked up. She didn't register Sumire's look of alarm, or Homare calling her name, or Ruru's cool, calm analysis of her symptoms being those of a panic attack. No...I couldn't handle that...I don't want to be a disappointment...
What if Kotori calls you a freak? What if they all hate you?
What if?
What if?
What if?
Hana couldn't take it any more. "I-I'm sorry, I can't...!" She turned away from the table and bolted for the door, shoving her chair out of the way as she did so.
Saaya stood up in alarm and reached after her. "Hana, wait...!"
The door slammed coldly behind Hana, leaving everyone at a loss for what to do next. Even still, it was obvious what was on everyone's mind.
Hana...are you okay?